Bulk film rewind apparatus

ABSTRACT

A bulk film rewind apparatus including a light gate structure wherein the light gate is coordinated with the apparatus cover so as to lock said cover closed when the light gate is in open position.

United States Patent 1191 Caruso Aug. 14, 1973 [22] Filed:

[ BULK FILM REWIND APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Jerome C. Caruso, Arlington Heights, 111.

[73] Assignee: Leira Corporation,

Chicago, Ill.

Nov. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 198,639

[52] US. Cl 242/7l.7, 206/52 F [51] Int. Cl. f. G03b l/00 [58] Field of Search 242/71.7, 71.1, 71.3;

206/52 F, 46 FM [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,298,339 10/1942 Boes -242/71.7 X

4 1941 Boes 242/711 x 6/1940 Stein 242/71.7 x

Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Assistant Examiner- -Edward J. McCarthy Attorney-Samuel W. Kipnis [57] ABSTRACT A bulk film rewind apparatus including a light gate structure wherein the light gate is coordinated with the apparatus cover so as to lock said cover closed when the light gate is in open position.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,413

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BULK FILM REWIND APPARATUS This invention relates to improvements in bulk film rewind apparatus and is more particularly concerned with the novel construction of suchapparatus including novel means to lock its cover in closed condition and to block out the passage of light into the bulk film chamber when the cover is open.

The apparatus is comprised generally of a substantially rectangular housing having therein a chamber in which a large roll of unexposed photographic film is placed. In use, the film is selectively withdrawn from the large roll and wound upon spools sized to fit a camera. In known rewind apparatus it is essential that whenever the apparatus is opened to start the feed of a length of film to a spool, such opening must be done in a dark room to avoid film exposure. The present apparatus embodies novel means to normally lock the cover of the apparatus against inadvertent opening and to block out light when the cover is opened. This is accomplished by common manually actuable means provided on the exterior of the apparatus.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide novel means to lock the apparatus cover in closed condition.

Another object is to' provide novel means to prevent light from entering the bulk film chamber when the cover is open.

Another object is to provide single control means for locking and unlocking the cover and for controlling operation of the light block-out means.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character referred to which is not expensive or difficult'to manufacture and which is very efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of said apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 4, of the upper or mechanism containing portion of the apparatus, showing the cover unlocked and open and the light gate closed.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the cover open.

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the cover lock.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the light gate.

' FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the light gate open.

Referring to the exemplary form of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, the apparatus is enclosed in a box-like housing 11 having on one face thereof a closure plate 12 that is readily removable to gain access to the interior of a chamber 13 adapted to contain a large roll of unexposed photographic film. The housing 11 is open at its top side which normally is closed by a cover 14 that is hingedly connected at one end, as at 15, to one side wall of the housing.

The housing 11 has a substantially horizontal partition wall 16 spaced below its open top defining a spool rewind chamber 17 between said wall and the cover 14, The wall 16 has a walled opening 18 communicating with the roll chamber 13 and through which the free end portion or web 19 of the roll of film is extended so as to carry it into the rewind chamber 17.

The horizontalwall 16 includes, at one end, a well 21 in which a spool-22 upon which'the film is to be wound tently by a pin 27 on a freely rotatable film guide roller 28 so as to be rotated thereby.

Upon referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, it will be observed that the upper end of walled opening 18 opens into the bottom of a semi-circular recess 29 formed integral with partition wall 16. This recess, defined by a wall 31, contains a light gate 32 best shown in FIG. 7. The gate 32 is semi-cylindrical in section and it includes a substantially diametrical wall 33 and radial ribs 34 radiating from its back surface. It has a substantially snug fit in the recess 29 and is adapted to assume open and closed positions with respect to the walled opening 18. As shown in FIG. 8, it is in open position so as to permit initial threading of the film web 19 upwardly through the walled opening. This initial threading is accomplished in a dark room with the cover 14 closed or open at the time of placement of the unexposed roll of film in chamber 13.

The next step in loading is to thread the film over the film guide roller 28 and to the spool 22 in a well known manner as indicated in FIG. 3 in broken lines. This threading is accomplished upon opening the cover 14 and it may be done in daylight because, as will be made apparent hereinafter, when the cover is open the light gate 32 is in light obstructing position as best FIG. 3.

The light gate 32 is journalled at one end in recess 29 in a circular rib or flange 35 and its other end mounts a shaft 36. As best shown in F [6.5, the shaft 36 is semicircular in section and it fits snuggly in the semicircular axial opening 37 in the light gate so that when rotated the light gate rotates therewith. The shaft 36 is integral at one end with a flanged disc 38 having a hub 39 in which is firmly secured an axial stud 41 formed integral with a manually engageable turn-disc 42 available on the'outside of housing 11. Obviously, upon rotation of said disc 42, about 45, the light gate 32 is rotated from open to closed position and vice versa. Free rotation of the turn disc 42 is restrained by cooperating detents 43 (FIGS) on the housing wall and on the flanged disc 38. Disengagement of said detents is effected by pressing inwardly on the turn disc 42, against the action of a spring 44 contained in the axial opening 37.

As noted hereinabove, the cover 14 is locked when in closed position and while the light gate is in open position (FIG. 8). Such locking is accomplished by engagement of an L-shaped lug 45 (F IG.6), carried on the under side of the cover 14, with the peripheral flange on the disc 38. Conversely, when the light gate is closed as in FIG. 3, the cover is unlocked by reason of the disc 38 having been turned to locate a notch 46 (FIG.6) in said peripheral flange in register with the lug 45, permitting the lug 45 to be disengaged. Suitable indicia 47 shown in (FlG.l) may be arranged on the housing adjacent the turn disc 42 to indicate the position of the light gate.

It should be apparent that with the hereinabove described structure, the cover cannot be opened while the light gate is in light passage position, and that it is unlocked coincidentally upon rotation of the light gate into closed position.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as details of the structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

1. A bulk film rewind apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing having a bulk film chamber and a spool rewind chamber, a passageway connecting said chambers and through which a film web is threaded, a semi-circular recess in said passageway through which said film passes, and a semi-circular light gate in said recess movable into surface engagement with the'film to prevent passage of light into the bulk film chamber.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which a cover is provided for the spool rewind chamber and means is provided to lock said cover in closed position.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which a cover is provided for the spool rewind chamber and means is provided responsive to the position of the light gate for locking and unlocking said cover.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, in which the locking means comprises a lug on the cover and means on the light gate engageable with said lug.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, in which the means on the light gate comprises anotched disc.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which operable means for the light gate is arranged outside said housing.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, in which spring detent means is associated with the operable means to resist its movement into light gate open and closed positions.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, in which the spring for said spring detent means is enclosed within the light gate. 

1. A bulk film rewind apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing having a bulk film chamber and a spool rewind chamber, a passageway connecting said chambers and through which a film web is threaded, a semi-circular recess in said passageway through which said film passes, and a semi-circular light gate in said recess movable into surface engagement with the film to prevent passage of light into the bulk film chamber.
 2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which a cover is provided for the spool rewind chamber and means is provided to lock said cover in closed position.
 3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which a cover is provided for the spool rewind chamber and means is provided responsive to the position of the light gate for locking and unlocking said cover.
 4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, in which the locking means comprises a lug on the cover and means on the light gate engageable with said lug.
 5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, in which the means on the light gate comprises a notched disc.
 6. The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which operable means for the light gate is arranged outside said housing.
 7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, in which spring detent means is associated with the operable means to resist its movement into light gate open and closed positions.
 8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, in which the spring for said spring detent means is enclosed within the light gate. 